Chapter 67

My new sem and the thesis I am to submit at the end of this sem calls for my full attention and yet I try to make time to take a trip down to Arhasia to narrate to you the rest of the tale. It is only becoz of my constricted time that I cannot reply to each of you or thank you in the right way, but I assure you, I have taken to my heart all your comments and they make me more determined to make time for this tale...

On behalf of all my dear Comrades and Readers and silent Visitors, I welcome new Reader Annie to our midst! Arhasia and this Inn is delighted to have you with us, dear Annie! Hope you will enjoy our company and find joy in the tale being narrated in our gathering...

I am updating two chapters tonight...narrating, I mean. And tonight, in honour of being a Senior Member, Leafs is treating us with beverages and edible treats so make sure you use best the opportunity for a treat! And also we are celebrating Farwa's good results! Congrats dear!

Chapter One Hundred Twenty Eight: The Dream

For the next two days, Kushi visited the Castle in the morning, spent her time in the company of Lady Anjali, Lady Lavanya and Nani and then returned home in the late afternoon. She wanted to bring her sister along but Payal was presently busy helping her mother at home and conveyed a message to Lady Anjali, promising that one day, before the week ended, she would come to meet her at the Castle in person.

When Kushi visited the Castle, she busied herself in helping Lady Lavanya and Lady Manorama make preparations for the great ball along with some of the servants. Lady Anjali told that her brother was still against the idea but that they would do the preparations secretly and that she would somehow try to coax him to affirm to the idea every day until he gave in.

It so happened that on the second day, when he had come to visit her before leaving for the Industry like always, she had put forward the suggestion of the ball and he had angrily told her to stop demanding something he would never let happen.

"Well, it is a sad loss then," said Lady Anjali, finally deciding it was time to play the last resort, "I was so looking forward to the ball and even planning to let some of the esteemed villagers to be invited too."

Lord Arnav had walked to the door, his hand reaching for the door knob, but he stopped and looked over his shoulder, "Esteemed villagers?"

"Yes," said Lady Anjali, smiling innocently, "You see, this ball would be a good occasion to make the villagers more in affinity to our family."

He frowned at the ground for a thoughtful moment before looking up.

"I still don't think this idea of a ball has any need to be considered," he said irritably, and left the room, but Lady Anjali had noted the contemplation in his tone. His answer had not been a firm negation like how he had always said no these past few days.

She told this to the other ladies when they assembled in her room that day.

"He is slightly giving in, I am certain!" said a jubilant Lady Anjali, "Some more time and prodding and he will probably let us have it!"

"That is good," said Kushi, "In that case, we need to hurry up with the preparations, because as soon as he gives permission, we can hoist it within the next day or so."

"True," said Nani, as she knit, sitting in the armchair beside her granddaughter's bed, "I would like to know the villagers as well. As the Lady Mother of the Castle, I believe I have been neglecting a few of my pressing duties of creating trust in the hearts of those in the land."

And so the preparations continued with greater fervor and Lady Lavanya was eager to join in the fun. If there was anything she kept in her heart as to what had happened at the end of the stepladder episode, Lady Lavanya preferred to overlook it as something she was assuming and not true. Kushi was too dear to her and Lady Lavanya could not hold grudges of any kind against her and she went about with her dear friend, providing her expert elite knowledge in the preparations for the best ball in Arhasia.

Kushi never again met Lord Arnav for two days. He was away in his Industry while she was there and when he came back, she would have already gone off with Ram who was retuning in his cart from the North Village. The ten-year old boy was extremely delighted to have Kushi for company in his rides, to and fro, and he was happy that Kushi didn't any longer have to work at the Castle and would be at her house in the evenings. He was often a lonely boy and though his Master was a kind man, he preferred the company of the two Gupta sisters and looked forward to the evening when his Master would let him visit their place.

On the night of the third day's visit to the Castle, Kushi was cuddling next to her sister who was already asleep. Kushi smiled, looking at her sister's peaceful slumber. Now that she was visiting the Castle, she could exchange letters between her Jiji and Lord Akash personally through Rahim Chacha who was the second one who knew about their letter-communications. The first one was, of course, Nani, whose kind motherliness seemed to understand everything even though she rarely ventured out of her room and had herself asked if her grandson had met her elder sister anytime. Kushi then had to confess they were writing letters and Nani's face was youthful when she giggled and said, "Oh, that boy is just like his father! That was the very way my son, Manohar, had wooed Manorama."

Kushi laughed hearing this, imagining Lady Manorama blushing while reading a letter, as how her sister often did, and then Kushi had laughingly said, "Like Father, Like son!"

And now, as she lay in bed and watched her sister sleep, Kushi was moved by sad thought. Would Lady Manorama take it well when she came to know of their acquaintance?

And she thought over this and she didn't know when, but she soon slipped into a sleep, being very tired from all the preparations in the Castle that day.

And this night too, she had a dream and she didn't know if one should rather call it a nightmare than a dream.

She found herself, dressed in the red silk robe in which she had posed as a model for the painting by Master Hari for the Industry. She was sitting in an armchair, in a room she was not familiar with, but the man sitting across from her, dressed in a dark suit and looking flawlessly handsome as always, was too familiar to her.

Between them was a tiny table on which was propped an open chessboard but there were not many pieces on it. She looked up at him, and saw his wild desirous eyes studying her in that red robe.

"It's your move," said Kushi, trying to make him stop looking at her so.

"No. It's yours," he said casually, his elbows propped on the polished arms of his armchair and one of his thumbs sliding along his jawline as he drank in her presence.

She looked down, frowning with discomfort, and tried to focus on the game.

Her eyes lit mischievously when she saw where one of her chess pieces was positioned. Feeling quite triumphant, her fingers reached out and she moved her white pawn to stand right in front of the black king.

"Check!" she said, tilting her head and smiling up at him, her gaze proud.

He tore his gaze from her face and looked down upon the chessboard. A smirk broke on his face and Kushi's heart sank.

"Well, you played your pawn real well to win her the powers of the queen," said Lord Arnav, and then he reached his fingers down as he continued, "But in your vanity, you seemed to have forgotten: I have still not lost my black queen."

And then he moved the black queen from behind the towering black king.

Kushi paled, but her heart was determined. It was her move next, so she wisely moved her pawn away from the black queen's capture line.

Lord Arnav's subsequent move brought the black queen to a square from where capture of the pawn was possible.

Neglecting all the other few pieces on the board, Kushi kept moving her power-pawn all over the chessboard, away from the black queen's capture line and always trying to see if she could capture the black king when the black queen was not a threat.

But alas, the struggle had no consolation and after having scoured the entire chessboard, the black queen chasing the pawn. One miscalculated move, right when the pawn was about to checkmate the black king, and the black queen had captured the white pawn.

"No!" Kushi groaned, as Lord Arnav seized the black queen and the pawn together in his hard hand.

"That's right, Kushi," he said in a low aroused voice, throwing the two pieces onto the chessboard, and they fell rolling before the black king, and then Lord Arnav stood up, moved towards the other armchair, and pulled up Kushi to his chest.

Kushi struggled against him but his arms were strong and he held her to him. One hand was securely on her back, his touch almost burning through the thin silk robe, and with the other hand, he lifted her face to look up at him.

Kushi stared at him, and he smirked down at her, his eyes on her parted lips, "That's right," he repeated in a desirous whisper, his lips inches away from hers, "I win, my pawn-queen."

Kushi jerked awake and stared at the ceiling, his last words ringing in her ears. He had called her his pawn-queen. She frowned.

"Oh, Kushi," she muttered, "You must be getting ill, indeed, to see him speak such words to you!"

As soon as she'd said those words, she clamped her hands on her mouth and looked hastily towards her sister. Payal was still in a deep sleep.

Kushi sighed with relief and lay down. She smiled at the ceiling, "Well, dreams can never come true so we are safe, aren't we, Kushi?"

If I could only assure you that you are right, Kushi...but time has its games too.

This chapter is certainly too echoing of what is to come. But before you get into that, to understand this chapter better, I suggest you read one of my analysis posts (which a few of you may have already come across). Interpreting IPKKND: CHESS and CARDS was made during the time the show was in its prosperous phase of airing and well, please do not comment in it (and besides, I think you can't coz it's an old post and it must be closed now). If you read it and have anything to ask or say regarding it, you may write it here in the FF Thread. And of course, you need not read it. I was just giving you something to kill your time by...Read only if you have time and if you want to. I mentioned it merely for EXTRA reference!

Okay now, onto the next chapter...

Chapter One Hundred Twenty Nine: The Letter

Nani sat in the armchair near the window in Lady Anjali's room while Lady Anjali sat up in bed, talking to Kushi who was seated on the bed beside Lady Anjali.

"And has he permitted the hoisting of the ball as of yet, my Lady?" asked Kushi, eagerly.

"No, not yet," said Lady Anjali and Kushi's smile fell.

"Don't you worry, bitiya," said Nani, smiling at Kushi, "Chotey will permit sooner or later. We'll just prepare things in advance and remain content in that."

"I have tried every trick possible," said Lady Anjali, "But he simply does not budge. I had presumed him to have been less assertive last day, but he was back to being firm in his negation of the ball when I asked him today morning."

"Should I give it a try?" asked Kushi, uncertainly.

"No!" said Nani and Lady Anjali together, out of concern, and Kushi gaped at them, surprised at their reaction.

Nani explained, "He does not like balls in the first place and if he does not listen to his sister, I don't see how he would be easy on you when you ask it of him."

"Well, there is no harm in trying..." suggested Kushi.

Lady Anjali frowned thoughtfully, "Since when did you become so brave enough to want to confront my wonderfully arrogant little brother, Miss Kushi?" and she turned to open the drawer by her bedside and began rummaging through it.

Kushi giggled, "Well your wonderfully arrogant brother cannot scare me like how he scares his subjects at the Industry!"

"Yes, that I have heard," said Nani proudly, "Lady La has told me how you were employed under him when she had been there at the Industry and all the things you were made to do."

"They were hard few weeks, indeed," said Kushi, gazing at the window, remembering, "But fighting his arrogance made my heart stronger willed."

"Ah, has it now?" Nani smiled at her, "I believe my Kushi bitiya has always been strong but it may be true that my grandson's way with her made her resilient."

Just then Lady Anjali handed a parchment to Kushi, and Kushi looked at Lady Anjali, "What is it, my lady? This is a blank parchment."

"Yes, I would like you to write a letter for me, if you are willing," conveyed Lady Anjali.

"Of course, I am willing to do anything for you, my lady," said Kushi, smiling, and then she stood up and walked to the writing-table near the window and sat on the chair before it.

She dipped a quill into an ink bottle positioned there, and then readied the quill close to the top of the parchment.

"Shall I begin?" asked Lady Anjali.

"Yes, my lady," said Kushi, cheerfully.

Nani watched as Lady Anjali dictated and Kushi wrote, faithfully, every word uttered, in her timid tender script, and for the next few minutes the room silently absorbed the eager words of Lady Anjali followed by the scratching quill tip as it scribbled words on the hard parchment.

"Dearly to my Beloved Husband," began Lady Anjali, gazing at the ceiling, her thoughts lost in a world of her own, a hand on her womb, and Kushi wrote, smiling for Lady Anjali.

"I am certain after the two letters you last received you must be overjoyed and waiting to hear more about our child-to-come. I shall assure you like always that the child and the mother are well and happy here, only missing the man who must complete this little family. From your last letter I understand you will have to stay there for a week more. Then I suggest you make it final and come soon. We are conducting a grand ball at the Castle, the first in eight years, and I know you will want to be here to dance with me. And this time to complete our dance, we will have a third person in our midst. The proof of our love. So hurry, my beloved, and may the war end soon that you may return to the peace of your home. Lovingly, your Lady Queen."

"Is that what he calls you?" asked Kushi, looking up after completing the letter.

"Yes, he calls me by that name alone," said Lady Anjali, smiling at her. Then she nodded to the letter, "You can hand it to Rahim Chacha when you go to help Lady La in the decorations."

"Certainly, my lady," said Kushi, placing the quill back, and rising from the chair with the parchment, "Nani, will you be coming to aid us with your wisdom in the preparations?"

Nani smiled, "I would love to, but I must stay here with my granddaughter for her temperature seems to not lower these days."

"I am better, I really am!" pleaded Lady Anjali, "It must be the presence of the child that is the added heat to my skin."

"No, it isn't, bitiya," said Nani, "I need you to drink that medicine I prepared for you right now and take some rest. I do not know which herb will work on you but I must make sure and do so with extreme care."

Kushi left to find Lady Lavanya and, on her way, handed the letter to the butler who was standing beside the kitchen door, talking to someone.

"Rahim Chacha, this is for Lady Anjali's husband," said Kushi.

"I will send it with the messenger as soon as he gets back here, bitiya," said Rahim Chacha warmly, and then the person beside the kitchen door, whom Kushi had not noticed, exclaimed, "Ah! Miss Kushi! It's good I met you here. I was about to ask Rahim Chacha to give you the message but now I see no need for an intermediary."

Kushi's face lit when she saw Master Aman standing there, looking dashing as always, his hair neatly combed and his eyes shining with an eager light.

"Master Aman, I never thought I would find you here!"

Rahim Chacha interrupted, "Well, I will have to leave you two for now. I must see to the dinning room prior to the teatime." He shook Master Aman's hand, smiled at Kushi and left for the living room.

Master Aman addressed the young girl, "I came by the Castle to convey the message I had told you of when I was at your place last."

"Oh yes, I remember," said Kushi, excitedly, "The someone who wants to meet me at the Industry...is it today?"

"Tomorrow afternoon," stated Master Aman, "Inform your family beforehand and tell them I will pick you up and return you back home well before dark."

Kushi nodded, "Tomorrow is a Saturday, isn't it?"

"Yes," said Master Aman, "Why?"

Kushi shook her head, "Just making sure..." but she didn't feel happy about it being a Saturday.

Master Aman studied her face for a moment, and then added, "You will come, won't you?"

Kushi looked up and smiled, "Oh yes! I am dying to know who this lady is! I will certainly come."

Master Aman smiled, "Then I shall look forward to seeing you tomorrow afternoon, Miss Kushi. Remember to wear one of your best dresses." He winked and, putting his hat on his head, turned about and left for the stable.

Kushi stood there for a moment, thinking, "Best dress? Who is it that is coming to see me and for whose eyes must I attire myself in the finest way?"

And with these thoughts she moved towards Lady Lavanya's room, not knowing that something she was to receive the next day, would, one day, lead her to uncover the history of the man who was to plunge her into a future she would never have dreamed to live...

I suggest you check this post of the previous update coz Aurakins updated them late but she put all her heart into finding the pics for us. Aura's Amazing Pics for the ORCHARD chapter"

And to know when the next update is to be made, always look to the INDEX